History of Tattooing Methods

Tattoos date back to pre-historic times. The historic implications of a tattoo depend greatly on the society in which it evolved. For example, ancient Egyptian women have been covered with small dots tattooed on the abdomen and other places thought to be associated with sexuality. At first historians believed these women were tattooed as such to show that they were prostitutes. However, evidence found within their burial site has led the same historians to reevaluate the status of these women who were later regarded as members of the royal family. Essentially, diverse cultures in every corner of the world have developed their own methods for marking the body and using designs to symbolize various social values, including citizenship and social status.

Western Tattoos

Much of the tattoos associated with the western world developed during the 1800s when the tattoo gun was invented. Prior to the tattoo gun, a needle was used to pierce the skin repeatedly until the tattoo was completed. Although the tattoo gun utilizes the same principle, the gun is assembled with several small needles that can pierce the skin hundreds of times each minute, and thus it is more practical and effective that a single needle.

Polynesian Tattoos

Indigenous tribes living along the Polynesian Islands have long used tattooing as a symbol of social standing. Men are still tattooed to illustrate heritage, social class and sexuality. Many of these tribes still utilize the ancient methods of tattooing which incorporate a handmade instrument similar to a hair comb with sharp points. The device is pressed into the skin, and then using a small hammer type of tool Polynesians tap the ink off the comb-like tool and into the skin. This generally creates a series of dots which are connected or elaborated upon by using a series of differently shaped tattooing tools.

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese tattoos began as a way of branding criminals. The original tattoos in Japan were used by governmental officials to mark a man for his crimes so that no matter how much time had passed members of society would be aware of his past deeds. However, during the early part of the twentieth century members of the Japanese underground began to incorporate tattoos into their initiation regiment. Tattoos became a unifying symbol for gangs and members of the Japanese mafia to illustrate with whom their allegiances were pledged.

German Tattoos

The first tattooed lady in an American circus side show was a German woman named Nora Hildebrandt, her father Martin was one of the first professional tattoo artists in the United States. Professional tattoo artists in Germany would decorate their wives and daughters to showcase their work. However, some of the German tattooing methodology has negative connotations such as the Nazi practice of tattooing concentration camp prisoners. Specifically prisoners within Auschwitz, the notorious death facility, were tattooed with serial numbers to identify them as prisoners. Germans have a long history of tattooing war and criminals alike for identification purposes. These tattoos were done with crude needle methods, such as the earliest tattooing tools.

Thai Tattoos

In Thailand, tattoos are considered to be part of a religious experience. For many centuries the Thai people have used an extremely long tool, somewhat similar to a pool stick. Monks wield the instrument using one hand placed at the back of the tool for guidance, again similar to how one directs a pool stick, and the other plunges the tool in and out of the flesh. The other way of creating tattoos in Thailand includes piercing the skin and then rubbing coloring into the wound. Thai tattoos often depict religious symbols, including tigers, temples and Thai script which often spells out a prayer.